THE POWER OF WITNESS
In
today’s First Reading, the king issued a decree banning praying or
asking petitions to God under pain of death in the lion’s den. They are
to direct petitions only to the king who considers himself a divinity.
Men spied Daniel praying to God in his chamber and was brought to the
presence of the king. The king considered Daniel a friend and did all he
can to spare Daniel of the penalty.
But the malicious and jealous spies challenged the king that a royal
order was irrevocable. Bound by legal obligations, the king was forced
to send Daniel to the lion’s den. Daniel prayed to God and was delivered
from the lion’s
attack “because he trusted God” (Daniel 6:24) even in the midst of clear
and present danger.
Converted, the king ordered the men who accused Daniel to be thrown
into the lion’s den along with their wives and children. As an
aftermath, he issued a decree lifting his ban on praying to God and
ordered that “in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence
the God of Daniel: ‘For he is the living God and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He
rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and
on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions’”
(verses 26-28).
Rarely are unbelievers converted because they have witnessed, i.e.,
seen God. They are converted most of the time because they have seen
witnesses to God. King Darius did not witness a direct revelation from
God. What brought him to the true God of Israel was the witness of
Daniel. When Mother Teresa was asked how she managed to convert great
numbers of people in India, she simply said, “We just live with them and
that takes care of the rest.”
Are you living with unbelievers? Do not pray that they witness a direct
revelation from God. Pray that you may become a witness to God and that
will take care of the rest. Fr. Joel Jason
REFLECTION QUESTION: How persuasive is the quality of your Christian witness?
Let me be salt of the earth and light of the world, O Lord. Amen.
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